Therapeutic Support Officer – Casual (Multiple positions)

• Melbourne /  North Melbourne
• Salary $54,000 – $60,247 plus superannuation
• Reference – VG/DFFH/COPL/374915FDS

THE ROLE

Therapeutic Support Officers provide secure treatment and care to people with an intellectual disability who have come to a Forensic Residential Service through the criminal justice system. Therapeutic Support Officers aim to support residents in developing life skills, so that once exited, they can make a pro-social, independent and constructive contribution to the community. Therapeutic Support Officers provide residents with leadership, advice, support and guidance. Therapeutic Support Officers also serve as a positive role model, demonstrating how to act and interact

Being a Therapeutic Support Officer provides a great sense of purpose. You’re doing two important things for the community: you are supporting vulnerable people and keeping the community safe. You are helping residents unpack those underlying issues that are resulting in them coming into the justice system, and you are helping people who have engaged in offending behaviour to take the first steps to becoming more positive contributors to society.

Therapeutic Support Officers are responsible for the day-to-day supervision of residents in a secure environment while also maintaining good order and the security of the facility. This is achieved through strict supervision of residents in residential and community settings.  The work includes escort duties, observing and assessing resident behaviour, supporting residents implement treatment tasks, operating security equipment and effectively responding to incidents.

The role also involves collating and providing information, writing case files, being part of a care team and preparing a variety of reports.

Therapeutic Support Officers are also responsible for contributing to resident’s rehabilitation, encouraging residents to establish goals for themselves and to engage in positive behavioural change.

ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE

1. Directly support client wellbeing, including support with daily household activities, preparation and assistance with meals, personal care, and social, recreational and community experiences that enhance quality of life, based on support plan goals.
2. Manage and assist as part of team incidents related to challenging behaviours and implementing behaviour support strategies and positive behaviour support plans according to legislative requirements
3. Understand client needs, preferences and interests and respond to clients and their families and others in their lives.

Please open the position description to read more.

COVID-19 VACCINATION
The department strongly recommends (but does not mandate) that employees maintain their COVID-19 vaccination status in accordance with current ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation) advice, given their individual circumstances. As of June 2023, DFFH does not require evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status.